Exhibitions On View

Calendar of Events — March 2010

All programs are free for JANM members and included with admission for non-members, unless otherwise noted. Events are subject to change.

Reservations are recommended for most programs; you may use the links below. You may also RSVP by emailing rsvp@janm.org or calling 213.625.0414 at least 48 hours in advance. Please indicate the name, date, and time of the program, as well as your name and the number of people in your party. (RSVPs are not accepted for Family Festivals).

For all ticketed events (classes, workshops, food tours, etc.), pre-payment is required to hold your space. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance or no refund will be issued.

THERE OR HERE by Jennifer Maisel

Writers Gallery Play Reading Presented by EWP:
THERE OR HERE
by Jennifer Maisel
directed by Chil Kong

A dark comedy about a mixed race American couple who outsources their pregnancy to India. Tomorrow Robyn and Ajay meet the woman who will have her egg and his sperm implanted inside her. Tonight they won't have sex even though they want to. Past and present, America and India - connected by the tenuous threads of time zones and technology. Outsourcedcomputer technicians, fast food order takers and phone sex operators become the refuge they can't seem to be for each other.

The History of the Japanese American Military Intelligence Service

Because of the highly classified nature of their work, the Military Intelligence Service’s (MIS) full contribution to the war effort has sometimes been overshadowed. Hear the important stories from Japanese American MIS veterans who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Legacy Society Appreciation Tea Event

By Invitation Only

The Legacy Society acknowledges and honors donors who have made made
deferred gifts to the Japanese American National Museum through bequests,
life insurance policies, annuities, trusts, or through retirement plan
beneficiary designations. This generosity and support will help the
National Museum continue its mission to promote understanding ad
appreciation of America's ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the
Japanese American experience for years to come.

1 – 4 PM – Put on a costume and smile for the camera! Have a fun photo taken with LA Photo Party – a photo booth without the photo booth!

4 PM - Doors close

*a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth

ABOUT OUR FRIENDS:Shibori Girl
"As a child growing up in Japan I had the great fortune to be exposed to the beauty, technical skill and lifelong practices of many Japanese craftsmen and women. The respect and reverence the Japanese hold for these traditions and those who practice and master them made an early mark on my life. Later on, as a high school student in Fairfax County Virginia, I was again graced with the good fortune of a school with complete art studios and teachers to match each medium (ceramics, fiber, metal, sculpture, jewelry, painting and drawing, and printmaking). It is no surprise I found a way to a career as a full time artist/maker for over 30 years.

As a parent of students in the public schools, I decided to become an artist volunteer and spent nearly 10 years on and off going into an elementary classroom and teaching art concepts. I am thrilled to be able to bring this passion for pairing art, shibori and children to the JANM!"

LA Henna
The art of henna came to us as a passion to create, using henna as our medium. For some it came on as a way to keep our cultural tradition. We were not trained to act on henna from a business standpoint, yet we love to share our art & work in our business. We all truly love what we do & really strive to be the best we can be at all the parties & events we get hired for. We are all extremely friendly, happy & outgoing. We all come out to you with complete humbleness & appreciation for the job.

LA Photo Party
8 months ago, at a party at my house, my friends were begging me to take their photos in my studio. I didn't want to deal with taking pictures of them because I was entertaining so I set my camera up to take a picture every 5 seconds.

It turned out that without me around, my friends were more inclined to be silly, jumping in front of the camera and making funny faces. They gathered around my computer monitor to review their photos as other friends took over the studio.

The next morning I realized what I had stumbled upon and began to figure out how to make the idea portable -- LA Photo Party was born.

Kidding Around The Kitchen
It is such a common problem in today's world that families rarely get to eat together anymore.

Kidding around the Kitchen shows that families can make and eat food together without a lot of fuss or a huge time commitment. The family food demo helps families with tips on smarter shopping, fun recipe ideas, advice on how to incorporate healthier choices when possible and advice on how to delegate tasks in an age-appropriate way. This family food demo is a “how to” get everyone involved in the family meal.

Kidding around the Kitchen is for families that have full plates in life as well as wanting a full plate of food to enjoy together. It's about time well spent. You'll see your kids get a we did it attitude!! This family food demo works on the try it premises all while empowering the kids and family. If we can do it, so can you!!

Kidding around the Kitchen is an adventure in fun, food and family. We are not only making food, we are making memories.

Bringing the Circle Together: Juchitan Queer Paradise

A free screening of Juchitan Queer Paradise, with a special short film entitled Two-Spirit People in the Modern World

In collaboration with Bringing The Circle Together, the Red Circle Project at AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) will be hosting a free night of documentary films: 'Two-Spirit People in the Modern World', a short film by Mike Garrido and Tarek Tohme and 'Juchitan Queer Paradise' by Patricio Henriquez. This important event will take place on Thursday, March 18, 2010 with a reception and screening at 7pm. Please visit www.apla.org/redcircleproject to RSVP for the event. Please contact me with any questions at 213-201-1311 or enaswood@apla.org

About the feature film 'Juchitan Queer Paradise': Juchitan is a Zapotec village in Mexico near the Guatemalan border. Here homosexuality is fully accepted; gays are simply a third gender. If a boy shows a predisposition to homosexuality his family will rejoice and be thankful for receiving what is considered a blessing. In Juchitan a man who wants to be a woman only has to dress like a woman to be considered and treated as a woman by the entire community. The film profiles three gay people: a teacher, a hairdresser and a shop owner.

March 20th, 2010 marks the fourth year of honoring National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. March 20th was selected by Native communities to commemorate National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day because it marks the start of spring, a time of beginnings and change. In Native cultures, seasons define the cycle and celebration of life. This day will serve as an opportunity to increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on Native Americans and Alaska Natives (NA/AN).

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series is a FREE monthly film series located in downtown Los Angeles at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy. Directly across from our host sponsor, the Japanese American National Museum. The film series was established to provide quality documentaries by and about Indigenous cultures of the Americas, and bring together a central gathering place where discussion and awareness of issues can be shared with the Native community and its supporters.

The film series is held at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy located at 111 North Central Avenue, between 1st Street and Central Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles. The NCPD can be reached via train, bus, or parking in the area. Screenings will begin at 7pm, and it is advisable to arrive at least 15-20 minutes prior for seating. Each film will include a raffle at the end of the screening. (pdf for directions). Doors open at 6:30pm.

The film series is hosted by Lorin Morgan-Richards and is generously sponsored by the following organizations:

Shibori Class with Shibori Girl

This half day workshop will introduce you to three basic traditional shibori techniques-makiage (stitched and bound), itajime (fold and clamp), and arashi (pole wrapped) shibori on silk. Traditional and contemporary samples from my collection will be on hand for observation as well as many favorite books on the subject from my library.

Using a non-toxic cold water dye for silk that needs no chemicals or heat to set the dye, we will concentrate on applying these techniques in inventive ways that will inspire you to further study of this creative form of surface design. All these techniques can be applied to fabrics other than silk (cotton, linen, etc.) in addition to dyes of all kinds. Discharge work will be discussed but not attempted due to the limitations of the workspace.

This class is for beginners and beyond, the inventive nature of shibori allowing for practitioners of all levels to learn, create, and be inspired.

This is a hands on class- please wear studio attire.

Materials student should bring to class include: small scissors, seam ripper, thimble (if desired), and a notebook for jotting down any information you deem important. Minimal handouts will be provided.

Comedy Zen: Tao of Comedy

Let these martial comedians hit you with their freshest and edgiest material. We are happy to bring in Kevin Shea, Owen Smith, introducing the COMEDY MONKS. A sketch group we created by selecting today's top comedians like Randall Park, Dwayne Perkins, and Hasan Minhaj. Rajiv Satyal will be your host and MC.